Mechanism foe spisit meters



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6 Sheets-She.t 1. J. LEEDE. RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT METERS.

No. 243.927. Patented July 5,1881.

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J. LEEDE. RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT METERS. No. 243,927. Patente d July 5,1881.

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J. LEEDE. RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT METERS. N0. 243,927. Patented July 5,1881.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. LEEDE. RECORDING MEGIIANISM I'OR SPIRIT METERS.

Patented July 5, 1881" Fig.5..

. INVENTORI audy BY ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheefis-Sheet 5.

- J. LEEDE. RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT METERS.

Patented July 5, 1881.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

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N. PETERS. PhoIn-Lilhugmplvcr. Washinglnn. n. c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. LEEDE.

RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT METERS. v No. 243,927. ,PatentedJuly 5,1881.

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N PETERS. Phmo-Lilhagnphur, Washington. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS LEEDE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

RECORDING MECHANISM FOR SPIRIT-METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,927, dated July 5, 1881.

(N0 model.)

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JULIUS LEEDE, of Washington, District ofOolumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spirit-Meters and Hydrometers and Automatic Recording Apparatus therefor; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same? The object oflm y invention is to furnish an improved automatic apparatus or machine tor accurately measuring and recording the quantity, specific gravity, and temperature of distilled spirits orother liquids passed through it. The functions are performed simultaneously, and the three records-to wit, of quantity (in gallons) and temperature and specific gravity (in degrees)are made inetfaceably on the same traveling paper sheet or strip by means of puncturing-needlcs or styluses. The sheet, which is practically continuous, is suitably marked and graduated for the purpose, and is drawn 0E automatically from a roll, and the recording or puncturing devices are operated bymechanism connected with avibrating lever attached to floats that rise and fall alternately in separate cylinders, and constitute the primary elements of the meter. The operation of these floats depends on the buoyancy of the liquidor, in other words, its density-and not upon the force or rapidity of flow of the cur rent into the meter-cylinders. The automatic operation of the entire machine depends, in turn, upon the action of the floats, whose cohnecting-bar constitutes a vibrating lever, from the oscillating fulcrum of which motion is communicated to all the other parts.

My invention is more particularly an improvement upon the apparatus forming the subject of Letters Patent No. 211,551 and No. 224,147, granted to John M. Oayce under the respective dates of January 21, 1879, and February 3, 1880. I have made changes in the construction and arran gementof old parts, dispensed with others, and also added new mechanism, so that the machine is greatly improved in respect to accuracy of operation, and also has new and important functions that especially adapt it for its intended use.

In theaccompanyingdrawings,formingpart of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side view, part being broken away. Fig. 3 is side view of the recording apparatus proper. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the recording apparatus proper. Figs. 5, 6, 7,8 are detail views. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the apparatus, part being broken out. Fig. 10 is mainly a front view of the meter-cylinders and mechanism connected with the float-lever. Fig. 11 represents a side view, perspective, and vertical section ofthe ratchet and its recessed drum. Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the cocks and connected devices for controlling the direction of flowto and the discharge of liquid from the meter-cylinders. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of one of the cocks or plug-valves. Fig. 14 is a detail sec tion.

I will, in the first place, describe as brieflyas practicable the construction and operation of those parts of the machine which are found also in (layces, and then indicate with the required detail the changes and additions which I have devised and practically carried out. The aforesaid patents of Gayce are therefore to be taken in connection with the following description whenever required for full understanding of the present invention.

The parts of Gayces apparatus which I em ploy without material change are the hydrometric cylinder and attachments, the governor, and the meter-cylinders and floats, and the four-way cock for regulating the supply and discharge to and from the meter cylinders. The construction and operation of these parts are as follows f The spirits from the worm of the still enter the apparatus through the tube or pipe, Figs. 1 and 2, connected with the hydromctric cylinder A, with which the hydromctric and thermometric recording apparatus are connected. From such cylinder the liquid overflows into the contiguous shallow cylinder or vessel B. The latter contains a float, 0, Fig. 9, which is attached to a horizontal lever, D, Figs. 1 and 9, of the third class, whose free end is connected by rod E with the bent arm of cock F, placed in the aforesaid supply-pipe. These parts-to wit, cylinder B, float G, lever D, rod E, and cook F-constitute an automatic governor, which regulates the flow of liquid by shutting off the supply either partially or entirely, corresponding to the head or pressure in the supply-pipe, or the operation of the meter, or the total arrest of discharge of the spirits from the apparatus. From the bottom of such governor-cylinder B, Fig. 2, a pipe, G, extends forward and terminates in a dischargenozzle, H. At about the middle of thelength of pipe G two tubular arms, G G, Fig. 12, diverge laterally and communicate with the meter-cylinders I I, containing the floats K K. A four-way cock, M, Fig. 12, is located at the junction of such tubes G G, and serves to di rect the supply-current into one of the metercylinders I, while allowing discharge of the contents of the other. The position of this cock is controlled by, and hence the supply and discharge of the respective cylinders depend upon, the operation-t. 0., the rise and fall-of thefloats K, they being attached to a lever, N, Figs. 1 and 10, that is pivoted centrally in a tube, 0, which connects the upper portions of the cylinders, and whose vibrations are communicated to the cock M and cause the required change of position by means of the following-described mechanism: Curved arms a project horizontally from the head of the cock. A lever, P, is pivoted horizontally between the meter-cylinders I, and its free end projects and works between said arms a, so that if the lever be shifted laterally-that is to say, if it be turned to one side or the other of the pipe G-it will act as a tappet, and by contact with and pressure upon one or the other of said arms a shift the cock M about a quarter round, thereby causing it to shut ofi' supply from one cylinder I and simultaneously admit it into the other.

For aiding in throwing the lever P to one side or the other, so as to shift the cock M and instantly shut off the supply, a spring, Q, is employed, as shown in Fig. 12. The same is wound around a guide-bar, R, that is pivoted horizontally, and provided with a lengthwise slot to receive a stud, b, fixed near the free end of lever I. When the lever P is shifted the stud 1) moves back in the slot of the bar R and gradually compresses the spring Q, until the lever and guide-bar have not only been brought into alignment, but their free ends carried a little beyond such point, when the spring Qsuddenly expands and throws thelever 1 violently over to the extreme limit of its lateral movement. The lever carries the arms a of the cock M laterally with it, and hence the cock is shifted as required. This movement of the lever P is effected by suitable connection with the fulcrum-pin of the float-lever N-that is to say, a forked tappetarm, S, Figs. 1, 10, is attached to the head of such pin, and its fork embraces the lever N, so that the vibration of the float-lever, due to the rise and fall of the floats as the meter-cylinders alternately fill and discharge, causes a corresponding movement of the arm S and le ver P.

The operation is, in brief, this: When the cock M is adjusted as shown in Fig. 12, its curved arms a being then thrown to the left of the pipe G, it cutsofi the supply from the left-hand cylinder I and allows its discharge through pipe G H. At the same time itpermits the right-hand cylinder I to fill. Thus the liquid rises in the latter and raises the float therein as it falls in the other cylinder and allows the float to fall with it. The vibration of the float-lever N also communicates intermittent rotation to a ratchet-wheel, T, Figs. 10 and 11, through the medium of toothed push and pull pawls U, and thereby operates the mechanism that records the quantity, specific gravity, and temperature of the spirits passing through the apparatus.

The hydrometric andthermometricrecording attachments of the cylinder A are as follows: The float or hydrometric bulb V rises and falls according to the density or specific gravityof the spirits. This variable immersion is recorded on a paper sheet, W, by means of a needle or stylus, X, which is attached to the stem of the hydrometric bulb. This stylus receives a blow from a hammer, Y, Figs. 3, 4, which is a bar supported vertically between pins d parallel to the standards Z Z. It is operated-that is, moved laterally to give blows to the stylus X- by means of a parallel push-bar, A, which is suspended between the outer standard, Z, and said hammer-bar Y, but attached to both by means of pivoted links 0. Vhen this bar A is moved upward the links a are brought into alignment horizontally, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and thus act as toggle-levers to force the hammer-bar Y laterally against the stylus X of the hydrometric bulb. Above this stylus X is another, X, which is also operated by the hammer Y and makes the thermometric record. The coiled bar thermometer B in cylinder A, Fig. 2, is connected with a series of lovers, 1 2 3, the upper one having a horizontal arm that carries the aforesaid stylus X, that, like the other, X,is free to move endwise so as to puncture the record-sheet.

It will be seen that, since the hammer or bar Y acts on or gives a blow to both styluses X and X at the same time, the hydromctric and thermometric records are made simultaneously, so that one record appears above the other on the same record-sheet, W.

Having now sufficiently indicated the construction and operation of those parts of the apparatus which are substantially similar to those shown and described in the patents of Oayce, before referred to, I will now proceed to describe the changes in construction and the new or added parts which constitute my invention.

First, I have applied a second spring, Q, and slotted guide-bar It, Fig. 12, to the lever I, which shifts the four-way cock M. The le ver is extended toward the front, or beyond its pivot, and such spring and guide-bar are ap plied thereto in substantially the same manner that the corresponding spring Q, and bar It are applied to the inner end of its longer arm. The outer spring, Q, serves to greatly relieve the friction of the fulcrum or pivot of the 1e ver P, which is caused by the pressure of the larger spring Q. This is, however, more particularly the case at the moment when the lever is approaching alignment with the guidebar R and swinging over the pipe G.

The plug-valves O D. that control supply and discharge of liquid to and from the metercylinders I, are horizontal and connected by rod E. They have shallow circumferential grooves, Fig. 13, one near each end, and a packing, f, is placed in such grooves to prevent escape of liquid. The body of the plug-valves between the two grooves is turned off, so that it works in very easy contact with the inner surface of the socket. This construction relieves friction, which is important to perfection of operation of the machine.

Instead of constructing the valves of metal, I employ caoutchoue, it being a material less affected by changes of temperature of liquids, which cause considerable expansion and contraction of metal. It is also less affected by the chemical elements of the liquids.

The four-way cock M will be constructed of the same material and in the same manner as cocks C D.

When the machine has been properly connected with the still-condenser and is ready to be put in operation, this is effected by adjusting the arm of valve 0 so that the latter opens the passage for escape of liquid, and, since valves 0: I) are connected by red E, both will be opened simultaneously. To arrest the operation of the machine it is obvious the arm of valve 0 must be adjusted to the reverse or former position.

Instead of making the ends of the float-lever N forked and pivoting the tioats between the arms of the fork, as heretofore, I pivot the ends of the lever to the tops of the floats, Fig. 1, which mode of attachment allows the latter greater freedom of movement. The end portions of the float-lever N are also made detachable from the body or central portion, the two being lapped one on the other and secured together by screws, as shown in Fig. 1. This construction allows convenient detachment of the ends of the lever when it is required to remove the floats from the cylinder for any purpose.

Another improvement is in the means for transmitting motion from the vibrating float lever N to the ratchet T, Fig. 10, and thereby operating the recording mechanism in unison with the filling and discharge of the meter-cylinders. In the previous or Oayce machine the push and pull pawls employed for this purpose were arranged vertically and pivoted to a stem, which was, in turn, pivoted to the lateral fork of the arm S, attached to the fulcrumpin of thetloat-lever N. In this instance I arrange the pawls U horizontally and operate them by a lever, F, that is pivoted at its lower end to the forked arm S and fulcrumed midway of its length on a vertically-adjustable plate, H, attached to bar or frame piece 1,

that connects the upper ends of the meter-cyl inders. By this construction and arrangement of parts I lessen the number ofjoints and reduce the friction incident to operation of the ratchet-and-pawl mechanism, so that the operation of the machine is rendered easier and more reliable. The aforesaid plate H is slotted vertically and secured to the bar I by a clamp-screw, g, passing through the slot. On the inner side of the plate H, Fig. 14, is a lengthwise groove parallel to the slot, which receives pins or studs 9, projecting from the bar I. Said pins hold the plate vertical and guide it when being adjusted. The object of the adjustment is to shift the fulcrum of the lever F up or down to vary or limit the range of the to-and-fro movement of the pawls U for the purpose of establishing the proper relation between the action of the meter-floats K and the registering mechanism, so that it will accurately record the exact quantity of spirits passed through the meter. The adjustment will, however, not be required except in setting up the machine for work.

I dispense entirely with the dial-recorder and its complicated mechanism previously made use of for registering the number of gallons, and I thereby greatly simplify and improve the machine. By the present arrangement the record of the quantity or number of gallons is made on the sheet simultaneously by both styluses X X,so that the sheet \V will afford a complete index of the results of the three operations of the machine, instead of merely two of them, as heretofore. The sheet 'W, Fig. 3, is ruled vertically and horizontally, and numbers are affixed along the top to indicate gallons, from one (1) upward to any desired number of thousands, while other numbers, ranging from 1 to 100, are inscribed vertically at the side to indicate temperature and specitic gravity according to any accepted or standard authority. In this instance the thermometric record is according to Fahrenheit and the hydrometric record such as used in United States custom-houses. The styluses X X puncture the sheet each time the floats K rise and fall-in other words, each time a cylinder I discharges its contents and the cock M is shifted to change the direction of the supply-current. The machine will be constructed so that a gallon will constitute the unit of measurement, and hence the cock M is shifted and the sheet W punctured each time a gallon passes through the machine.

I have improved the hydrometric recording apparatus proper in two ways, one of which relates to the means for operating the hammer that acts on the styluses. The meanstormerly employed to operate the hammer Y was a le ver which was arranged to press laterally on the adjacent push-bar A. I have devised a different arrangement ot'levers, (indicated by numbers tt 5 6 7, Figs. 9, 10,) whereby one of them-to wit, that indicated by 7, Fig. 2, and which is of right-angular form-is tilted vertically and acts against the lower end of said bar and raises it at the required times to force the hammer Y laterally, and thus cause it to strike the styluses X X, so that they will punc ture the record-sheet W. The first lever, 4, of the series is arranged vertically, Fig. 10, and pivoted centrally, while the second, 5, third,

b, and fourth, 7, are horizontal, Fig. 9. The

levers 5 and 6 are connected by a bar, J. The ratchet-wheelTis attached to a drum, T, Figs. 1, 10, 11, whose periphery is notched or provided with a recess, 71, and the lower end of lever 4 is held or pressed against such drum by means of a spiral spring, K, that is attached to the outer end of the second lever, 5, of the series. The ratchet-wheel T and its attached drum T are rotated once for every time the cock M is shiftedin other words, each time a gallon of liquid is passed through the machine; but at each rotation the lever 4 is tripped by reason of its lower end dropping suddenly into the recess in the drum T, (see dotted lines, Fig. 11,)which allows the lever 4 to turn on its fulcrum, so that the bar J, Fig. 9, operates the horizontal bell-crank 6 and causes it to act on the vertically-acting bellerank 7, whose free end forces up the pushbar A. As the drum T continues to rotate the lower end of 'the lever 4 is forced out of the notch h, and thus restores the levers 4 5 6 7 to the former position. (Shown in full lines, Fig. 9.)

The second improvement in the recording apparatus proper consists in the attachment of the stylus X to the head of the hydrometric tube, Fig. 8. In the former invention the attachment was a rigid or semi-rigid one, which, owing to the jar caused by the sudden blow of the hammer-barY, sometimes shivered or broke off the tube. I have remedied this defect by attaching the stylus X to the tube by means of elastic or spring bars M, which allow the requisite movement of the stylus without co n1- munieating other than a lightjar to the tube.

In the previous machines the paper sheet, on which the record was made by puncturing it at intervals of space, was applied to a large drum, and when the latter had made one revolution the sheet had to be detached and another substituted. I have dispensed with the drum, and instead of a short length of ruled sheet I employ what may be termed a continuous sheet; and I have likewise devised mechanism for feeding the paper or drawing it off intermittently, corresponding to the operation of the puncturing devices.

The record-sheet IV is wound on a reel, N, placed on a vertical shaft. The sheet passes between the standards 0 0 Fig. 4, where it is accessible to the stylnses X X, that work in a vertical slot of standard 0 and as they puncture the sheet their points enter a vertical groove, Fig. 4, in the standard 0. The sheet passes at top and bottom through guides S, Figs. 4, 7, secured to the standard 0, and it is drawn forward intermittently by frictionrolls V, arranged in pairs at the upper and lower ends of parallel vertical shafts W. The

latter have their bearings in arms Y, which are adjustable vertically on the standard A The rolls of each pair are placed opposite one another, and the blocks h, Fig. 5, in which the shafts W are journaled, are adapted to slide laterally toward and from each other, being provided with lateral ears that project into and slide in slots in the bearings or arms Y. Behind each journal-block h is placed a spring, 4, which serves to press the blocks toward the other, and thereby causes the rolls V to press or clamp the sheet W between them with the force requisite to stretch the sheet tightly and overcome any tendency to slip. The roll-shafts IV are geared together by means of spurwheels B, Fig. 4, keyed on their lower ends.

Both the guides S and rolls V are made adjustable vertically on the standard 0 and shafts W, respectively, and provided with clamp-screws for securing them in any adjust.- ment required. The object of this construction is. to enable wide or narrow sheets IV to be used in the machine. Forinstance, the speeific gravity of high-wines varies considerably from that of beer and acids, and hence a sheet ruled and marked for one might not answer so well for the other, and to accommodate sheets of varying width the guides and rolls must be placed nearer each other or farther apart, as the case may be. It is, however, sometimes requisite to adjust both guides and both rolls together vertically without changing their distance apartthat is to say, in setting up the machine for use, the sheet IV requires to be accurately adjusted in proper relation to the stylus X of the hydrometer, whose bulb may vary from others of like construction in respect to depth of immersion. To do this the cylinder A is filled with distilled water and the bulb placed therein. Then the sheet \V must be adjusted vertically to bring the stylus X exactly opposite zero, and for this purpose the guides S and rolls IV may require adjustment together. To this end the arms Y, in which the roll-shafts W have their bearin gs, are made adjustable vertically on standard A and the reel N, Figs. 2, 4, on which the sheet W is wound, is similarly adjustable on its shaft. Said reel N and arms Y aretherefore adjusted together or simultaneously whenever it is required to carry the sheet down or up, corresponding to the immersion of the hydrometerb'ulb.

The rolls W are rotated intermittently in opposite directions by means which are mainly similar to those employed and heretofore described for operating the hammer-bar Y-that is to say, by levers 4 5 6, a spring, K and connecting-rods J Figs. 1, 4, 9. The bar 4 is pivoted vertically, and its lever end bears on the drum T, while the lever 5 is arranged horizontally, and the spring K connected with its shorter arm, from which the rod J 2 extends to the lever 6. The latter has a springpawl,

7, which engages one of the gears B hence as the drum T rotates the lever 4 is tripped and the spring K vibrates lever 5, causing it to rotate the gears B a part of a revolution, thus feeding the sheet WV or drawing it'ofl" the reel N.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the tapered plug-valve having a circumferential groove near each end, the valve-case having coincident grooves, and packing f, placed in the annular recess formed by said grooves, all as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the floats, the metereylinders, and connectin g-tube, of the floatlever, which is made in three parts, the end portions 'bein g detachably connected with the middle one by a lap-joint and screw, as shown and described, whereby said end portions may be conveniently attached to or detached from the middle pivoted portion to allow insertion or removal of the floats.

3. The combination, with the recessed drum, to which intermittent rotation is imparted, of a vertical pivoted lever, 4, whose lower end rides on the periphery of said drum, the spring K, and lever 5, the hammer-bar that acts on the styluses, and means for establishing eonnection between the hammerbar and spring,

vertical hammer-bar, and the parallel p u sh-bar, suspended and attached to thelatter by links, as specified, of the pivoted lever 7, which oscillates in a vertical plane, the float-lever fulcrum, and devices arranged intermediately of 5 the latter and said lever. 7, to communicate intermittent movement, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with the hydrometric tube and stylus, of elastic or spring bars M, which are attached to the former and support the latter, as shown and described.

6. The combination, with a vertical standard and the reel N, of the slotted guides S, which are made vertically adjustable on said standard, as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, with reel N and stand ards A A, of vertically-adjustable slotted guides and drawing rolls, all arranged to operate as shown and described.

8. The combination, with the shafts V, drawing-rolls V, and gears B of a pawl-lever, 6, eonnecting-rod J levers 5 6, spring K lever 4, and notched drum T, all as shown and described.

JULIUS LEEDE.

Witnesses AMOS W. HART, SoLoN O. KnMoN. 

